Stay-home order for coronavirus exempts Modesto-area food plants. Wine and beer, too
Thousands of people can still work at Modesto-area food and beverage plants despite Thursday’s stay-home order from the state.
Gov. Gavin Newsom exempted “essential” businesses from his edict aimed at controlling the coronavirus. They include farms and ranches, along with dairy and poultry plants, nut processors, canneries and other workplaces that turn the raw goods into consumer products.
Wine and beer producers are among the exempt businesses, which is welcome news to home-bound folks who could use an evening glass. The Modesto area accounts for much of the nation’s wine volume. Also, craft beer is an up-and-coming venture here.
The exempt workers still have to follow sanitation measures on top of those already in place at the plants to prevent food-borne diseases. They will have to keep a safe distance from coworkers, a key coronavirus measure. And they should stay home if they have any kind of contagious ailment.
“Our poultry companies are taking every precaution to keep employees safe and working,” said an email Friday from Bill Mattos, president of the California Poultry Federation in Modesto. “Even before this virus, hand washing, sanitation and safety were a top priority.”
The stay-at-home order will hit the area’s economy hard because it bans people from schools, sit-down restaurants, bars, fitness centers and many other places.
But people still need to eat and drink, and that’s where Stanislaus and other Central Valley counties excel. The region leads the world in nut production and is a major player in dairy, poultry, wine, tomatoes and several other industries.
These are what economists call “primary” industries, meaning they bring in plenty of income from the nation and world. Retail, restaurants and other “secondary” sectors here can thrive only if the core is strong.
Wineries
E.&J. Gallo Winery is the world’s largest. Roughly half of its 6,500 or so employees are based in Modesto.
“As the global spread of COVID-19 continues to evolve, Gallo’s primary focus remains the safety and well-being of our employees, customers, business partners and communities,” a representative said by email Friday.
“We have made many changes in our business, including remote and flexible work schedules where possible, while continuing operations per the federal and state guidance which allow all food and beverage manufacturers to continue production.”
Sizable volume also comes from The Wine Group, whose holdings include the old Franza Winery near Ripon; Bronco Wine Co., south of Ceres; and Delicato Family Wines, north of Manteca.
Newsom’s order bars the public from wine tasting rooms because of the close quarters. The Modesto area has few, but they abound in Lodi, Calaveras County and other wine areas.
Beer makers
The beer industry in Stanislaus County is tiny compared with wine, but it is starting to make a mark in craft brewing. The brewers have had to close their taprooms but can still make beer under the state order.
Dust Bowl Brewing Co. is selling curbside food and drink at its main site, on Fulkerth Road just west of Highway 99. Customers can call 209-250-2043 to place an order between 11:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.
“The temporary taproom closures have obviously had an impact on our staff,” said an email Friday from Michelle Peterson, marketing and public relations manager. “We are working hard to support them in this uncertain time, and our goal is to get all staff who have been laid off or incurred reduced hours back to work as soon as we are able.”
Dairy and poultry
Stanislaus and nearby counties have dozens of plants that turn milk into cheese, yogurt, ice cream, butter, powdered items and other goods. The farms that produce the milk are the most labor-intensive part of agriculture here.
Some workers worry that Newsom’s order applies to them, said a website posting by Western United Dairies, an industry group based in Modesto. It responded by providing “permission slips,” in English and Spanish, that employees could show if they are questioned.
“In a time that seems uncertain on many levels, we’re thankful to be able to have affordable and nutrient-rich dairy products accessible to California families,” the posting said.
Chicken and turkey plants long have had sanitation measures to guard against salmonella and other food-borne diseases. This has expanded with coronavirus, a respiratory ailment that can be spread by people touching infected surfaces.
Mattos said the plants are now ensuring that workers are at least 6 feet apart, another coronavirus measure.
Foster Farms, based in Livingston, is the top-selling poultry brand in the West. It employs about 12,000 people in turkey processing in Turlock and at chicken plants in Livingston, Fresno, Porterville, the Pacific Northwest and the South.
Nut plants, canneries
The almond and walnut harvests won’t start until late summer, but the plants still are processing some of the 2019 crops.
This work has become highly mechanized but still relies on some people to inspect the product visually, said Richard Waycott, chief executive officer of the Almond Board of California. They can do this while staying at least 6 feet apart, he said.
“Our industry is pretty well set up to adapt to these new measures,” Waycott said. The Modesto-based group has long promoted pasteurization and other measures to keep the products safe.
The area has several canneries for tomatoes, refried beans, peaches, apricots and pears. They hire several thousand people for the summer processing but also have some working year-round in warehousing, sales and other tasks.
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 12:38 PM.
